Towel-rack.



PATENTED DEC. 2'7, 1904.

H. A. HENDERSON.

TOWEL RACK.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 27, 1904.

Unti -mu UNTTED STATES Patented December 27, 1904.

PATENT EETcE.

TOWEL-RACK- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,579, dated December 27, 1904.

Application filed August 27, 1904. Serial No. 222,448.

To (0 whmn it may concern: 4

Be it known that I, HENRY A. HENDERSON, of Conway, in the county of Carroll and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Towel-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to racks for endless or roller towels, and has for its object to provide a simple and convenient rack or holder comprising a roller and a support therefor, the roller and support being relatively arranged in such manner as to permit the convenient application and removal of the towel and to pre vent the accidental or unintentional removal of the towel.

The invention also has for its object to provide a holder of a towel-supporting roller with swinging arms adapted to constitute a rack for supporting towels. &c.

The invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a towel-rack embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a bottom view of the same. Fig. 3 represents an end view. Fig. 4 represents a perspective view, on a larger scale, showing one of the end portions of the rack. Fig. 5 represents a front elevation of a m odilication. Fig. 6 represents an end view of the modification shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents a bottom view of the modification shown in Fig. 5.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

My improved towel-raek comprises a back piece a, adapted to be attached to a wall or other vertical support.

7) represents an ear or projection aiiixed to one end of the back piece a and projecting from the outer side thereof.

0 represents an arm rigidly secured at one end to the projection 6 and extending longitudinally of the back piece a.

6 represents a roller journaled in bearings ff, the former atfixed to the projection b and the latter to the outer end of the arm 0. The arm and roller are separated from the back piece a from the projection bto the 0pposite end of the back piece by a space 9, into which an endless or roller towel may be introduced by an edgewise movement. Means are provided for closing said space at the end where the bearing f is located,.the means shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 being an ear 2', connected by a hinge jto the back piece and adapted to be swung backwardly against the back piece, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, to leave the outer end of the space 9 unobstructed for the insertion of a towel. h en it is desired to retain the towel in place on the roller, the ear 6 is swung to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 and in Figs. 1,3, and L, said car then extending across the space 9 and closing the same at its outer end. The arm 0 is provided at its outer end with tongues c c, between which the ear 2' projects when swung outwardly to close the space 9. The ear i is provided with two pairs of shoulders z" 2" and i said shoulders engaging the outer and inner sides of the tongues 0 c, as shown in Fig. 4, and thus preventing the arm 0 from being swung either outwardly or inwardly, the said arm being long, and therefore somewhat resilient, so that while it is rigidly attached at one end to the projection b its outer portion is adapted to move to some extent toward and from the back piece a. Such movement is prevented by the shoulders 11 v1 on the ear The outer sides of the shoulders c arecurved, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4:, the arrangement being such that when the ear iis being swung outwardly its outer shoulders i will engage the curved faces of the tongues c, and thus exert an inward pressure on the arm, bringing the latter into position to be engaged by both pairs of shoulders when the ear reaches its outward position.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the roller 0 is 'journaled at one end in a projection 5, affixed to one end of the back piece a. An arm 0 which corresponds to the arm 0, above described, is rigidly aflix'ed at one end to the projection Z) and has a block 0 affixed to its outer end, in which block the other end of the roller 0 is journaled. The

block 0 is adapted to bear against one end of the back piece a, but is normally held separated from said back piece by the arm 0 which is so constructed that it has a tendency to spring outward from the back piece at its outer end, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 7, and thus form an opening between the block 0" and the back piece a for the insertion of a towel. When it is desired to retain the towel in place, the outer end of the arm 0 carrying the block 0 is swung inwardly until the block 0 bears against the back piece. A spring-pressed latch m, pivoted to the back piece, engages a stud 72, aflixed to the block 0", to hold, said block against the back piece. W hen it is desired to remove the towel, the latch m is disengaged from the stud 72., whereupon the arm 0 swings outwardly, thus forming an open space between the block 0 and the back piece and permitting the removal of the towel.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the arm 0 or 0 supports one end of the roller at a suitable distance to permit the insertion and removal of the towel, thesaid arm at the same time being rigidly aflixed to the back piece (6 and having no bodily or extended swinging movement, such as would be permitted if the arm were hinged to the back piece a. The arm and the roller are therefore always in relatively close proximity to the back piece and to the wall, there being no liability of the arm and roller swinging loosely. This construction does away with the employment of a hinge to connect the roller-support with the back piece, and therefore makes the construction stronger and more durable, as well as less expensive, than would be the case if the roller-support were hinged to the back piece. It is obvious that the construction may be modified in other particulars without departing from the spirit of my invention.

0 0 represent arms which are pivoted, by means of screws 0 o, to the end portions of the back piece and are adapted to be swung outwardly from the back piece to support small towels, &c., the said arms and the back piece constituting a foldable towel rack. lVhen the rack is folded, the arms 0 are parallel with the back piece and located above the upper edge or the same, as shown in the drawings. hen the arms are adapted for use, they are swung outwardly from the back piece above the roller.

1 claim- 1. A towel-rack comprising a back piece, an arm orbracket secured rigidly at one end to the back piece and extending lengthwise of the latter, a roller journaled in bearings on said arm, the arm and roller being separated from the back piece by a towel-receiving space which is open at one end of the arm and roller to permit the introduction of a towel, and means for closing the open end of said space to prevent the withdrawal of the towel.

2. A towel-rack comprising aback piece, an arm or bracket secured rigidly at one end to the back piece and extending lengthwise of the latter, a roller journaled in hearings on said arm, the arm and roller being separated from the back piece by a towel-receiving space which is open at one end of the arm and roller,

and an ear hinged to the back piece and adapted to extend across said. space to prevent the withdrawal of the towel.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY A. HENDERSON. Witnesses:

Geo. A. GoL'roN, A. J. CARSON. 

